Family Day could be expensive, Conservatives believe
By Bill Rea

Ontarians will be getting a new statutory holiday for the first time next month, but there are concerns it's going to cost a lot of money.

The creation of he new Feb. 18 holiday, to be known as Family Day, was promised by Premier Dalton Mcguinty during the fall provincial election campaign.

"There is nothing more valuable to families than time together. And yet it seems tougher than ever to find, with so many of us living such busy lives," the premier said. "That's why, on the third Monday of this coming February - and every February from now on - Ontarians deserve a new statutory holiday - Family Day."

"I can think of no better way for our government to get to work than by rewarding Ontarians for all their hard work, and for their belief that when we work together, build together and dream together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish," the premier added.

But Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory was concerned about the costs, particularly to municipalities who have to give their staffs the day off, or pay them time-and-a-half to work.

"Dalton McGuinty's new holiday next month is nothing more than another ploy cooked up by the McGuinty Liberals without any thought or planning to win votes," Tory said. "Ontarians work hard and they deserve to spend more time with their families but the cost of this holiday, which many people won't even be able to enjoy, it just too high for many towns and cities already struggling to make ends meet."

He also cited examples of what the new holiday will cost municipalities. Tory stated it will cost the City of Hamilton $750,000, plus another $200,000 if it snows. The City of Toronto will be out an estimated $2.3 million, and Tory said another $2.5 million could be added to that to cover the cost of running the TTC for the day.

"At a time when the provincial government needs to step up and relieve Ontario municipalities of some of the financial burdens they face, this holiday is yet another McGuinty download," he declared.

Mayor Margaret Black wasn't sure if it was going to be a good or bad thing for King.

"It's going to cost us a little over $25,000 for that day," she observed. "That's one concern."

But she pointed out it's a difficult time of year, when people could probably use a break. On the other hand, Black observed March break comes just a couple of weeks after that.

She also suggested the rest could lead to more staff productivity in the long-run, with them returning to work re-energized. Black said she was holding out hope it will be successful.

York - Simcoe MPP Julia Munro said she was concerned about the impacts on employers in general, not just municipalities.

"This is no different than a tax," she declared. "It's one of those things that's paid for by our dollars."

But Munro did say the impacts on municipalities was a worry. "That's a lot of money, and obviously a lot of tax dollars that could be spent doing something else," she remarked.

As well, she said she's never been approached by a constituent who said they needed this extra holiday.

But Oak Ridges - Markham MPP Helena Jaczek was of a different mind.

"I think overall, Ontario's economy can handle an extra paid day," she remarked, adding there are other provinces that have nine statutory holidays.

She also thought giving people more time to relax with their families might make them more productive.